Former Keighley man on trial accused of sex abuse against two girls

A former Keighley man and ex-director of Bradford’s Bite the Mango film festival is on trial accused of 14 charges of sexually abusing two girls in allegations spanning three decades.

Adeni Rutter, 42, denies 12 allegations of indecently assaulting a young girl in Keighley and one of raping her several years later when she was 14.

He also pleads not guilty to groping another girl about ten years ago, when she was 15 or 16.

Rutter, known as Addy, who directed the international film festival in 2006 and 2007, was today set to begin giving evidence in his defence at Bradford Crown Court.

Prosecutor Alexander Menary has told the jury that the indecent assault charges represented an alleged ongoing course of conduct when Rutter was in his mid teens.

The girl, now a woman in her 30s, wept as she told the police Rutter dressed himself in a frock with buttons to commit an indecent act when she was a small child.

She has alleged that Rutter, now of Fairfax Crescent, Southowram, Halifax, raped her at his then home in Keighley when she called round when she was drunk. She has accused him of groping her in the shower before forcing himself on her after she passed out in bed.

The second complainant says Rutter put his hand under her bra and fondled her breast when she was 15 or 16.

Mr Menary said the teenager told her mother in 2012 and the police were informed.

The girl, now in her early 20s, said Rutter approached her from behind in a kitchen. She said he “manhandled” her before moving away. “I felt like I should be saying something, but I didn’t,” she said.

The court heard that Rutter volunteered to be interviewed by the police in April and May 2012. He denied all the allegations made by the two women.

“It never happened. It is a lie,” he said of the first complainant. He said he was shocked and did not know why she had made the accusations. The girl had never stayed over at his house. She was drinking too much at the time and he offered her help and advice before sending her home.

Of the second girl, he said: “I did not do such things. I don’t know why she has come out with this.”

The trial continues.

* For a full report see tomorrow's Keighley News. Updates will appear on the website.